The document summarizes chapters 11 and 12 of S.E. Hinton's novel The Outsiders. It includes 15 questions about the chapters and the teacher's answers to those questions. The teacher's answers analyze various themes in the chapters, including the complexity of characters beyond surface labels, Ponyboy slipping into denial about Johnny's death, and the bittersweet ending bringing the story full circle. The teacher feels the ending creates a satisfying conclusion to the novel's overall exploration of its important themes.

1. THE OUTSIDERS
Chapter 11&12
Questions & Answers
December 2018
Miss Riddell

2. 1. True or false? Bob’s parents are
partly responsible for their son’s
death. Explain your answer.
Both Randy and Ponyboy have commented that
Bob’s parents were too lenient with their son, which
made him act out in worse and worse ways.
In this chapter, Ponyboy wonders if Bob’s parents
loved him too much or too little.
Over-indulging Bob is equated with neglect here,
making us think that Bob and Johnny had more in
common than it would seem at first glance.

3. 2. Ponyboy compares Bob to several
of the members of the Greaser
gang, noting Bob’s smile was like
Sodapop’s, his eyes might have been
like Johnny’s, and his recklessness
and hot-temper were certainly like
Dally’s. What is Hinton’s point in
drawing such clear connections
between Bob and the Greasers?

4. Again, Hinton is emphasizing the idea that these
boys have much more in common than they realize.
They are all individuals and contain far more
sides/complexities than any label can accurately
portray. The foolishness of their hatred is
emphasized here.

5. 3. Why, do you suppose, would
Ponyboy rather have someone’s hate
than his/her pity?
Playing the victim is not Ponyboy’s style. He’d rather be
hated and still hold some power than to be emasculated by
pity. Remember in the ambulance how he told Jerry he was a
Greaser and he didn’t just let him label Pony as a hero.

6. 4. Ponyboy has been a thoughtful
voice of reason as the narrator of
the story, but at the end of this
chapter he’s changed and is now
what is called an “unreliable
narrator.” What’s going on with
Ponyboy here in the last few pages
of the chapter? Put on your
psychologist’s hat as you answer this
question.

7. In his deep grief over Johnny’s death, his mind has
slipped into the defense mechanism of denial.
He isn’t able yet to fully face the events of the last
few days, so he’s lying to himself to try to ease his
pain.
This is interesting when we look at his statement in
the first chapter, when he said, “I lie to myself all
the time. But I never believe me.”
On some level, Ponyboy knows that Johnny really is
dead and that Johnny was, indeed, the one who
stabbed Bob.
He’s just not ready to deal with everything.

8. 6. What do you suppose the
doctor told the judge?
He probably mentioned that Darry was a good,
loving guardian and that Ponyboy was still in shock
and processing his grief.
The judge goes easy on Ponyboy and allows him to
stay with Darry; this is very likely because of the
doctor’s influence.

9. 7. Define the word, “acquitted.”
(verb) to relieve from a charge of fault or crime;
declare not guilty

10. Why is this the correct sentence
for the judge to issue?
It is true for Ponyboy, who didn’t really do anything
wrong.

11. 8. When Ponyboy’s English teacher
takes “into consideration the
circumstances” of the past few
weeks and gives Ponyboy a special
assignment to help him raise his
grade, what does Ponyboy think the
teacher means?
Ponyboy thinks the teacher is going easy on him
because of all the trouble he caused.

12. What does the teacher actually
mean?
The teacher actually means that Ponyboy’s been
through an emotionally traumatic time and lost his
good friends, so he deserves a break/alternative
assignment. The teacher doesn’t think that Ponyboy
is a screw-up, even though Ponyboy suspects that he
does.

13. 9. Why doesn’t Ponyboy feel scared
when he’s approached by the Socs in
the parking lot?
Ponyboy’s emotionally numb at this point and no
longer fears the threats of the wealthy boys. He’s at
the end of his rope, so to speak.

14. In what way does this passage echo
the sentiment expressed by Dally
before his death?
There’s an echo of Dally’s philosophy when Ponyboy
narrates that “if you got tough you didn’t get hurt.”

15. 10. In the parking lot scene, what
piece of evidence shows that
Ponyboy’s still a good kid at his core
and will never be as tough as Dally?
He cleans up the glass from the bottle he broke
because he doesn’t want somebody to get a flat
tire. This shows Ponyboy still has some of his purity.

16. 11. Darry says that “you don’t just
stop living because you lose
someone.” Explain how this is true.
Life doesn’t stop for everyone else when someone
dies. Even though our hearts are broken, life
continues around us and we must keep moving
forward. Humanity is meant to continue moving
forward.

17. 12. After Sodapop gets Darry and
Ponyboy to realize what their
squabbling does to him emotionally,
how does the weather reflect the
mood of the characters and the
scene?
The air was clean, just as the air has been cleared
amongst the boys. The night is sparkling and the
stars light up everything; these are symbols of hope.
These are all positive signs for the future of the
Curtis boys.

18. 13. According to Ponyboy, what was
especially rare and wonderful about
Johnny?
He really listened to you when you spoke and he
cared about you. This, Ponyboy says, is a rare thing.
The implication is that we should all be a bit more
like Johnny.

19. 14. What does Ponyboy write for his
English assignment?
The assignment for Mr. Syme is the book we’ve been
reading all along.

20. 15. How do you feel about the
ending of this book?
I think it’s a beautiful way to bring the story full-
circle and creates a satisfying ending to a
bittersweet tale.

21. 16. What is the overall theme in the
novel? Discuss the importance of
the point of view in the novel.
Explain how it helps develop the
theme.
I’ll take these answers in.